Hardat work

A woman joint secretary came to meet the newly inducted minister of state for health Sudip Bandopadhyay to enquire about some establishment issues. Out of courtesy, Bandopadhyay asked about her family.

MoS health's courtesy queriesA woman joint secretary came to meet the newly inducted minister of state for health Sudip Bandopadhyay to enquire about some establishment issues. Out of courtesy, Bandopadhyay asked about her family.

When the lady said that her husband is in Arunachal Pradesh, the minister questioned, "Is he also an IAS officer?" Shakuntala Gamlin, the joint secretary, smiled and quipped, "No sir. He is the chief minister of the state." From the next meeting, Bandopadhyay started giving special attention of what Jarbom Gamlin's wife says.

Growing differences between Kamal Nath and UD secyNow that it is certain that urban development (UD) minister Kamal Nath would remain in charge of the ministry till the UPA-II government's term ends - Prime Minister Manmohan Singh has categorically stated that there won't be any more reshuffle - rumours have started gaining ground that the present UD secretary Navin Kumar might be on his way out.

The corridors of Nirman Bhawan - the ministry headquarters - are rife with rumours of the growing differences between the minister and Kumar, which ministry mandarins say is affecting work. Kumar joined as UD secretary last year just before the Commonwealth Games and is due to retire next year.

New tribal affairs ministers charges up dormant ministryBureaucrats in the dormant tribal affairs ministry are now charged-up lot. The new minister Kishore Chandra Deo has woken many from the slumber by asking for their achievements in the past few years. The ministry has also directed bureaucrats to come up with firm proposals to change rules for the better implementation of the Forest Rights Act, which has recently come under attack from the National Advisory Council. "You will see concrete results," Deo said.